Master Storyteller: Jesus conveys deep truth in gripping stories Luke 15 Luke 15:32 “This brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Using simple, homespun images, Jesus expresses profound truths in a way that holds his audience captive. His parables (concise short stories)Read More …

Lyrics for the Living God Psalm 33 The psalms were meant to be sung—and shouted Psalm 33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. William Booth, believing the 19th-century English church had become too refined to reach the cities’ poor, took the gospel into theRead More …

The Man by the Pool His work: Since the man by the pool was an invalid, he may have made his living by begging. His character: His role in the story seems almost entirely passive, perhaps in keeping with his character. He showed evidence neither of faith nor gratitude afterRead More …

The Danger in Being a Christian: It began as a Jewish sect; fierce persecution only helped it spread Acts 8 Acts 8:1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. In some countries, aRead More …

Rome at Last: Paul finally makes it to the capital—in chains Acts 28 Acts 28:23 He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. The future of theRead More …

Sermon on the Mount: A model prayer and some perplexing advice Matthew 6 Matthew 6:33 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6, a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, contains the Lord’s Prayer, perhaps the mostRead More …

No Secrets: Jesus is a man on a mission John 10 John 10:24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Every few years an author or scholar or even a movie makerRead More …

Sin Like a Cancer 2 Samuel 18 First David, then his family, then a nation 2 Samuel 18:33 “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” Sins: Many people think of them as parking tickets. IfRead More …

Perfect Storm: One last obstacle before reaching Rome Acts 27 Acts 27:22 “But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” This chapter gives an eyewitness account of an ocean storm, the once-in-a-decade kind ofRead More …

Inflammatory Word: Jesus’ listeners fail to hear Matthew 5 Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” One emotionally charged word, kingdom, makes images dance in the minds of Jesus’ audience: bright banners, glittering armies, the gold and ivory of Solomon’s day, theRead More …